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Y Combinator vs 500 Global Flagship Accelerator
What Y Combinator and 500 Global Flagship Accelerator each invest, the equity they take, who they suit and when applications close, from each programme's own pages.
Y Combinator vs 500 Global Flagship Accelerator
Y Combinator
- Funding
- US$500,000 US$500k as two SAFEs signed together: $125k on a post-money SAFE for 7% and $375k on an uncapped MFN SAFE
- Instrument
- SAFE
- Equity taken
- 7% 7% from the $125k post-money SAFE; the $375k uncapped MFN SAFE converts on the most favourable terms of SAFEs issued from around the start of the batch until the priced round
- Programme fee
- No fee YC says it charges companies no fees to take part
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- 4 a year
- Delivery
- In person
- Stages
- Idea, pre-seed, seed
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- Anywhere
- Perks
-
- Help with visas and incorporation for founders from outside the US
- Access to Bookface, YC's founder platform, and alumni events
The batch lasts three months and opens with a three-day in-person retreat. YC also takes a pro rata right to invest in later rounds.
500 Global Flagship Accelerator
- Funding
- not published Up to US$50k at entry, with potential for up to US$1M more as the company progresses; instrument and equity are not published on the programme page
- Instrument
- not published
- Equity taken
- not published
- Programme fee
- not published The programme page shows a Phase 1 fee of US$35k per startup, excluding travel, in copy that is partly unfinished; confirm the fee with 500 Global before applying
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- not published
- Delivery
- In person
- Stages
- Idea, pre-seed
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- not published
- Perks
-
- Access to 500 Global's network of VCs
- Mentorship from operator-investors, alumni founder coaches and entrepreneurs in residence
- Community of 6,000+ founders
Runs for four months in San Francisco. Batch 37 runs from 30 November 2026 to 9 April 2027.
Y Combinator: full listing · 500 Global Flagship Accelerator: full listing
Where they differ
| Term | Y Combinator | 500 Global Flagship Accelerator |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | US$500,000 | not published |
| Equity taken | 7% | not published |
| Instrument | SAFE | not published |
| Programme fee | No fee | not published |
| Duration | not published | not published |
| Cohorts | 4 a year | not published |
| Delivery | In person | In person |
| Stages | Idea, pre-seed, seed | Idea, pre-seed |
| Sectors | Sector-agnostic | Sector-agnostic |
| Based in | San Francisco, United States | San Francisco, United States |
| Next deadline | 2 November 2026 | not published |
Which fits whom
Y Combinator fits founders
- At the idea, pre-seed or seed stage
- Who can be in San Francisco for the programme
- In any sector
- Willing to give up 7% equity; the standard offer is US$500,000
500 Global Flagship Accelerator fits founders
- At the idea or pre-seed stage
- Who can be in San Francisco for the programme
- In any sector
- Who will ask about equity first: the terms are not published
Application dates
Y Combinator
Winter 2027: applications close 2 November 2026.
500 Global Flagship Accelerator
Batch 37: applications closed 16 October 2026; the programme starts 30 November 2026.
Y Combinator vs 500 Global Flagship Accelerator: questions founders ask
Which invests more, Y Combinator or 500 Global Flagship Accelerator?
Y Combinator publishes a standard offer of US$500,000; 500 Global Flagship Accelerator does not publish one.
Which takes less equity, Y Combinator or 500 Global Flagship Accelerator?
Y Combinator takes 7%; 500 Global Flagship Accelerator does not publish its equity terms.
Which closes first, Y Combinator or 500 Global Flagship Accelerator?
Y Combinator closes on 2 November 2026; 500 Global Flagship Accelerator has no published deadline ahead.
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